NZ@Noon: Mum licensed to drive again - 13 years on

Rebecca King has her licence after 13 years driving without it. Photo / Duncan Brown

Stories making the headlines around the regions today include a mum getting her license back after 13 years and a cute pug reigns supreme in Bay of Plenty.

This woman is back on the road 13 years after losing her driver's licence, and this time it's legal.

It was down to just four votes but Hudson, a 3-year-old pug with a killer personality, has been named as The Bay of Plenty Pet of the Year.

More than 80 charges were laid in Northland under the Dog Control Act during the past five years.

He may have only been in the country four months, but one Rotorua student is already helping out his new community.

An enterprising Maxwell man is making portable speakers from old suitcases - offering music listeners something unique.

Second year student Lucas John is one of the first students to benefit from a bold initiative from Waikato University aimed at nurturing inventors and entrepreneurs.

Masterton Holdsworth Lions Club members helped new entrants at Masterton Primary School chow down on healthy foods yesterday that the pupils prepared themselves.